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The President's Daily Brief
September 9th, 2025: Moscow Masses 100K Troops For Major Offensive & Hamas Terror in Jerusalem
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Trump vows harsher sanctions, always vowing them on Russia after this weekend's strikes on the Ukrainian capital. I mean, vowing would imply anyway that he's super serious about it and something's going to happen. Maybe he's, maybe he's just sort of vowing. Vowing, Vowing light. Vowish. We'll see. Plus, one of the deadliest shootings in Jerusalem in years. Gunmen opened fire on civilians, killing six and wounding dozens. Hamas has already stepped forward to take credit. And in today's back of the brief, a warning system breakdown lets a Houthi drone hit an Israeli airport, forcing a shutdown and leaving two people wounded. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. It appears Vladimir Putin is ruling out diplomacy entirely when it comes to the war in Ukraine, at least for the foreseeable future. I know that that comes as quite a shock to anybody who hasn't been paying any attention. Over the past week, the Kremlin has amassed some 100,000 troops on the front lines in eastern Donetsk, fueling fears in Kyiv and across Europe that Moscow is preparing for a major new offensive to fulfill their ambition of of capturing the entire Donbass region. The troops have been relocated to the area outside the city of Pokrovsk that's a crucial logistics hub that connects several key cities in Ukraine's eastern defensive arc. That's according to a report from the New York Post. Russian troops have been steadily advancing on the city for the past two months from the north, east and south, using small infantry groups and drone surveillance to stretch Ukrainian forces thin. Moscow has also been sending sabotage and reconnaissance groups into the southern portion of the city, seizing on vulnerabilities left in the defensive perimeter by depleted Ukrainian infantry units. But now it appears that Putin is ready to employ the full weight of the Russian military, which heavily outnumbers Kyiv's beleaguered fighting force, in an attempt to finally conquer the strategic hub. The suspected assault appears to be imminent, as the troop buildup reportedly includes a number of Russia's elite naval infantry units, which were redeployed from the north northeastern Sumy region in recent days. The Kremlin has also dispatched several tank regiments and two motorized rifle brigades to the area, and they're bringing in drones and heavy armored vehicles to supplement the fighting force. Word of the troop movements first reached European capitals late last week, sparking concerns at last week's European Security Council meeting, where leaders were hastily hashing out details regarding security guarantees for post war Ukraine. Kyiv's allies now fear that the buildup is part of Putin's strategy to consolidate control over the entire eastern Ukrainian region before the year's end. Now, as a reminder, Russian forces already occupy roughly 70% of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, collectively known as the Donbas. But Ukrainian forces still have a foothold in sizable chunks of territory. The city of Pokrovsk has proved particularly difficult for Russia to capture, with multiple failed attempts launched by Moscow Moscow over the past 18 months. But back in July, amid Russia's summer offensive in the region, their forces were able to take control of the town of Chasiv Yar. Now, that's after nearly a year of intense fighting in the surrounding area, and that dealt a major strategic blow to Kyiv. The battered town, which is located on relatively high ground, had long served as a regrouping point and forward artillery base for the Ukrainian Army. Russia regarded it as one of Ukraine's best defended strongholds, given its elevated geography and rough terrain. Its capture advanced Russia's slow and bloody effort to encircle Ukraine's fortress belt of cities in the eastern Donetsk region, removing a key obstacle that had prevented their army from pushing westward. Now, due to Russia's overwhelming numerical advantage, coupled with Ukraine's manpower shortage and the extensive length of the current front lines, it looks like Pokrovsk will be the next domino to fall. According to analysts at the Washington based think tank, the Institute for the Study of War, Russian forces could capture Pokrovsk by the end of 2025, if not sooner. If they are successful, Russia would be able to cut off one of the Ukrainian military's main supply routes in the region and firmly establish control over nearly the entire Donetsk region a primary objective for Moscow ever since they began their invasion. Putin has long made taking control over Donetsk one of his key demands to end the war, and claimed earlier this summer that he could complete that objective through military force by October. But it's worth remembering that even with their manpower advantage, Russian forces have struggled to make meaningful gains over the past year of fighting. Their summer offensive, for example, only resulted in Russia seizing some 785 square miles of land, representing just 0.3% of total Ukrainian territory. George Barros, the leading Russia analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, told the New York Post, quote, it took Russia about 18 months to make its way to the city, but Pokrovsk has already outlived its usefulness, so it isn't too much of a loss compared to what it took Moscow to get. He noted that just last Thursday, Ukrainian forces managed to repel another attempted push from Russian soldiers into the city. Still, with Putin prepared to throw 100,000 troops into the meat grinder in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv's remaining forces in the region will likely be forced to make a strategic retreat before too long. The intensifying battles in the east come as Russia continues to escalate their aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities, particularly the capital of Kyiv. As we discussed on yesterday's pdb, over the weekend, Moscow launched their largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the war began, firing some 810 drones, four ballistic missiles and nine cruise missiles at targets across the country, killing and injuring dozens of civilians. The bombardments are getting increasingly belligerent, with Sunday's attack hitting the office of the Ukrainian prime minister, marking the first confirmed strike on a government facility in the capital since Russia's 2022 invasion began. All right, after the break. Trump once again vows tougher sanctions on Russia after strikes on Kiev. 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Sticking with the war in Ukraine, it appears President Trump may finally be preparing to put the economic screws to the Putin regime following Moscow's indiscriminate missile and drone attacks across Ukraine over the weekend. Now, admittedly, it's a bit like Groundhog Day. I feel like I've said that same sentence numerous times during the past few weeks. As a reminder, Sunday's bombardment killed at least four people, including a mother and her baby, injured more than 44 others, and severely damaged Ukraine's main government building in Kyiv for the first time since the war began. In the wake of the aerial assault, Trump reiterated his long promised threat to hit Russia with tougher economic sanctions, according to a report from the BBC. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the president said he was, quote, not happy with the whole situation and was ready to move forward with what he described as the second phase of his pressure campaign against the Kremlin, though once again he did not elaborate on what that might look like. Trump's most aggressive measure to date against Russia's economic interests came late last month when he imposed an additional 25% tariff on India's exports over their ongoing purchases of Russian oil, raising the country's total tariff rate to 50%. Since the outbreak of the war, India has become Moscow's second largest oil customer after China. India's ongoing purchases have helped prop up Moscow's wartime economy, as we've discussed here on the pdb, as Russia still remains one of the world's largest oil producers, with oil and natural gas exports accounting for roughly a quarter of their entire federal budget. But Trump has so far refrained from hitting China, the number one consumer with tariffs due to ongoing trade negotiations, and has similarly held back on slapping Russia with additional sanctions in the hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough. But Sunday's attack and reports that Russia is amassing 100,000 troops in Ukraine's eastern territories for a fresh offensive should leave little doubt that Putin has no intention of coming to the negotiating table anytime soon. Officials in Moscow were quick to react to the latest economic threat from Washington, saying that fresh sanctions would have no effect on their war effort. A spokesman for the Kremlin, who may actually be office meds, said that Kiev and their European allies were the ones standing in the way of peace. Putin mouthpiece Dmitry Peskov said Monday, quote, sanctions are the agenda supported by the Kiev regime and European countries. They are doing everything to bring Washington into their orbit and impose these sanctions. He added, quote, it would be preferable for us to achieve our goals and ensure our security by political and diplomatic methods. This is a Russian talking, but at the time when this is impossible due to the lack of reciprocity. We continue the special military operation, end quote. And Paskov managed to utter that crap with a straight face. Well done, you. European leaders are expected to travel to Washington early this week to discuss a unified strategy on squeezing the Putin regime financially, though it's not clear yet which leaders Trump will meet with. The president also signaled on Sunday that he would once again be speaking over the phone with Putin in the coming days. Ukrainian President Zelensky has regularly implored European leaders and President Trump to move forward with additional sanctions against Russia and buyers of their energy products, arguing it is the only viable strategy to force Putin to the negotiating table. But as we recently discussed on the pdb, well, Europe is still heavily dependent on Russian energy products and has struggled to find alternatives, while most European countries, with the exception of Hungary and Slovakia, stopped directly importing Russian crude in 2022 and Russian fuel in 23. A significant loophole. It's a large loophole. It's a massive loophole, let's call it that. In the sanctions still allows countries to legally buy Moscow's crude as long as it's first refined into fuels elsewhere. In 2024, for example, the EU spent more money on Russian fossil fuels than on financial aid to Ukraine, albeit indirectly through purchases from Turkey, India and China. Last week, President Trump admonished European leaders over their continued addiction to Russian energy, saying they're essentially helping fund MOSC Moscow's war in Ukraine. And, well, he's not wrong. Trump told his EU allies that he is ready to escalate economic pressure on the Kremlin, but needed stronger commitments from Europe to stop buying Russian energy products. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant said that if the EU can summon the collective will to increase sanctions on Russia and join Washington in imposing secondary tariffs on nations that continue to buy Russian oil, quote, the Russian economy will be in total collapse and that will bring President Putin to the table, end quote. He also added, we are in a race now between how long can the Ukrainian military hold up versus how long can the Russian economy hold up? Okay. Turning to Israel, the deadliest terror attack in Jerusalem since 2023 erupted Monday morning when two gunmen stormed a crowded city bus at rush hour, killing six and wounding dozens more. The terrorists boarded a bus at Ramots Junction, a northern hub in the west bank, home to a large Orthodox Jewish community opened fire on passengers and commuters waiting at a bus stop. Witnesses told the Jerusalem Post that the bus doors jammed before the attack, with the driver citing a malfunction. Others described a suspicious man making a phone call just as the bus arrived at the stop moments before the shooting began. Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, with two more succumbing to their injuries at nearby hospitals. The youngest victim was 25 years old, the oldest 79, with three of the victims being rabbis. At least 21 people were hospitalized with gunshot wounds, while another 26 were treated for shock. One passenger recalled the chaos as, quote, gunfire like nothing I've ever experienced, end quote. Several bystanders, along with a soldier at the junction, returned fire and killed the two terrorists. Israeli officials later said the attackers had set out from villages west of the Ramad crossing. Israel's security agency Shin Bet later arrested an East Jerusalem resident accused of driving the gunman to the bus stop. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed the shooters were Palestinian. Following the attack, Israeli forces sealed off nearby villages, launching a dragnet for potential accomplices. The IDF dispatched four companies to reinforce checkpoints and conduct interrogations, while soldiers were deployed alongside police to, in the army's words, thwart terrorism. Weapons recovered from the scene included rifles, ammunition and a knife. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who toured the site with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, after conferring with security chiefs, pledged to continue what he called a, quote, war against terrorism on multiple fronts. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad quickly welcomed the bloodshed, though neither terror faction formally claimed responsibility. In a statement, Hamas labeled the attack a, quote, heroic and exceptional operation. Yes, shooting up a bus stop, superheroic, framing it as, quote, natural response to Israel's campaign in Gaza. The Iran backed group's rhetoric went further, casting the shooting as retribution for both the new offensive in Gaza City and alleged desecration of the Al Aqsa Mosque. Reference to recurrent clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian worshipers at that Jerusalem holy site. In Hamas's statement, the Jerusalem bus shooting was proof that militants could still strike the heart of Jerusalem despite Israel's ongoing military offensive in the Strip. The attack adds to a bloody pattern of assaults on civilians in Jerusalem since the Gaza war began. Back in 2023, a Palestinian man opened fire near a synagogue in the city, killing seven. And as our longtime PDB listeners may recall, in September 2024, three Israelis were gunned down in a similar attack at a Jerusalem. All right, coming up next in the back of the brief, a Houthi drone slams into an Israeli airport after the country's alert system failed. More on that story when we come back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me take just a moment to talk about protecting your hard earned assets. Now, when you hear about inflation worries or when you look around you see the national debt in the US is over $37 trillion, or you just hear about all the global uncertainty. Do you ever think to yourself maybe now would be a good time to purchase? Well, that would be a logical thought. Look, whether as a hedge against inflation or peace of mind during global uncertainty or just for sensible diversification, the Birch Gold Group believes that every American should own physical gold. And so let me tell you about something special that they've created until September 30th. 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In today's back of the brief, Israel's multilayered air defenses failed as a Houthi launched drone slammed into Ramon Airport, forcing flights to a standstill after officials admitted it was misclassified as a lesser threat. According to the New York Times, Israel's emergency medical service confirmed a man was hospitalized after being wounded by shrapnel while an elderly woman was injured. In the chaos of fleeing the blast. In a statement later that night, the Israeli military acknowledged that its air force had tracked the drone from Yemen, but misidentified it, allowing the weapon to bypass defenses and detonate near a passenger terminal in the southern city of Eilat. The statement insisted there was no indication of a technical malfunction in an attempt to soothe civilian concerns and promised an extensive investigation. Notably, two other drones launched from Yemen the same night were intercepted before they breached Israeli airspace. The Houthis, who since the Gaza war began have lobbed waves of drones and missiles at Israel and of course also at shipping lanes in the Red Sea, claimed responsibility. A rebel spokesman declared that all airports in Israel will be unsafe and will be continuously targeted until Israel halts its Gaza offensive. The drone strike comes just weeks after our coverage of Israel's targeted killing of senior Houthi leaders, including the terror group's Prime Minister, Ahmed Al Rahawi. At the time, rebel commanders pledged reprisals would escalate, and Sunday's attack appears to have been designed as proof of that vow. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz condemned the assault, warning the Houthis were, quote, again firing at Israel and pledged a forceful response from the Jewish state. Israeli news outlets later confirmed Ramon Airport resumed operations after a shutdown of several hours. But the incident revived bitter memories of May when a Houthi missile evaded Israeli defenses and briefly shut down flights at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. Taken together, these breaches underscore a troubling pattern. Despite Israel's celebrated air defense network, repeated Houthi strikes are probing its seams and exposing some vulnerabilities. As we've tracked here on the pdb, the Houthis remain one of Tehran's strongest proxies. At a time when Hamas is reeling from leadership losses and territorial setbacks in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon faces not only relentless Israeli airstrikes, but also a government backed disarmament plan that has left the group severely exposed. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Tuesday 9th September. Now if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@the first tv.com and of course to listen to the show ad free. Well, you can do that. Just become a premium member of President's Daily brief by visiting PDB premium.com I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back later today with the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay co.
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